Does SHIV support/take advatage of SLI?

[Ark]

As the titles asks, does Silent Hunter IV support and take advantage SLI?

Thanks!

[Ark]

Nobody knows?

[Torplexed]

Alas...I don't even know what advantage SLI is. Perhaps you could elaborate?

[Diopos]

Well according to www.acronymfinder.com it can mean anything from:
Solid Liquid Interface :hmm:
to
Small and Large Intestine

[Soundman]

I'm no expert on this matter, but what he is referring to is running two graphics cards in tandem. SLI stands for "scalable link interface" Similar to a mirrored raid hard drive configuration. From what I have read, it's over-rated for most games, and in most cases does not show a signifigant increase in performance, so it is not worth the extra bucks spent compared to the gain in performance, unless of course, you have it spend. The newest games are just now beginning to take advantage of this type of setup. It's mostly for serious hardcore gamers. Not sure about SH4, I'd do a search in these forums to find your answer.

[Captain Dave]

I run 2 EVGA 7600GTs in SLI mode. All my videos are smooth, including DVD movies. I'm still using a Socket 939 Motherboard. (Opteron 185) Right now using TMO 1.62 and the RSRDC to go with it, my frame rates on the Bridge are in the 70's.

Whether SH4 is better with SLI, I don't know. I suppose it comes into play when there's a lot of action to render. (convoys,etc.) With todays new graphic cards by ATI and nVIDIA along with Socket AM2, AM2+, and AM3, SLI may be old hat.

[Ark]

Originally Posted by Soundman

I'm no expert on this matter, but what he is referring to is running two graphics cards in tandem. SLI stands for "scalable link interface" Similar to a mirrored raid hard drive configuration. From what I have read, it's over-rated for most games, and in most cases does not show a signifigant increase in performance, so it is not worth the extra bucks spent compared to the gain in performance, unless of course, you have it spend. The newest games are just now beginning to take advantage of this type of setup. It's mostly for serious hardcore gamers. Not sure about SH4, I'd do a search in these forums to find your answer.

Yes, that is the SLI I was referring too.

In many of the newer games, there can be quite an increase in performance. Fallout 3, Far Cry 2, Crysis, STALKER CS, COD, etc.. etc.. to name a few. SLI has been advantageous in some games for a while now (hence the reason some people were/are running SLI setups with 6600GTs, 8800TXs, etc..).

I believe I already did a search here, but I will run one again with a few different headings to see what I can find.

Thanks!

[CaptianT]

I have a notebook with an 8800gtx sli setup. When I try playing with only one gpu (with everything maxed out), I get some stuttering. When I use both gpu's with Sli enabled, everything runs smoothly with absolutly no stuttering. Sli seems to run great for me.

[Rockin Robbins]

Wow! Thumbs up, Captain Dave! I also have an SLi'd 939 motherboard with Opteron 175. I was running 2 7600GTs in SLI configuration, had both of them explode electrolytic caps. The first was replaced by EVGA with a 7600GT, but when the second one went they sent me a 7800GS, which was about as fast as my two SLI'd 7600GTs. I complained not until the 7800GS had a problem (which appears not maybe to be a warning from my power supply not a card problem. I have to plug it back in and see how it goes). I ended up using a single 7600GT.

Believe it or not, I am happy! I run the game with all graphics settings WFO (Wide Flyin' Open) and get frame rates in the mid 20's with exterior camera looking at the sub, higher frame rates everywhere else. I think that SLI didn't double the speed but it may have added five fps or so.

Unfortunately when I ran the SLI configuration I was running an Athlon 64 3800+ single core processor. I have to conclude that I have had too many variables to be able to make any hard and fast conclusions.

I have my new power supply in operation now and can do some fooling around to see what's up. If the 7800GS is really bad I'll send it back on EVGA's lifetime warranty and see what they send me back.:rotfl:

[Captain Dave]

Rockin,

I bought my 7600gt on Black Friday 2007, and the second one off E-bay in june last year. Both are identical N553 DX. Haven't had any problems yet. I have the Asus A8NSLI Premium mobo. Thought I saw somewhere that you have the same one.

I'd like to give a A8N-32 SLI board a try, but heard they had too many problems.
Probably real cheap now.

Hope you get everything squared away with yours.

[XLjedi]

The happiest I've ever been with 2 GPU's was when I was playing FS2004 in multi-window mode and the 2 GPU's each have 2 monitor plug-ins.

So I was playing a flight sim with 4 monitors!

I had two in front of me, stacked one on top of the other. The top one was my windshield and the bottom held my radio deck, GPS, and various other dials. The other two, I had to my right and left giving me a view out each window. Very panoramic; it was very cool. I think I actually liked it more than flying real planes; it wasn't loud, I didn't have to sweat, there weren't a multitude of idiots that I had to keep constantly watching for. It was fun.

Um... but of course, they were not running in SLI. Which I think people forget about a lot. You can only run SLI on a single monitor.

Running in SLI, I see some performance gains in some games; but not 2:1, more like 1.3:1 or something like that, not a huge improvement. If SH allowed multi-window play, I'd ditch SLI mode in a heartbeat to have the extra displays!

So if you're thinkin dual GPU's, think games that support lots of monitors... (did I mention that buying 4 monitors is not cheap?) or I just don't see that much bang for the buck. My last GPU purchases were dual 9600GT's for about $300. Which I didn't think was too bad at all. Oh, and big power supply, and at least a couple 120mm fans.

If you're just gonna run 1 monitor, I'd say there are probably better ways to spend your money than doubling down on a GPU.

[Rockin Robbins]

Originally Posted by Captain Dave

Rockin,

I bought my 7600gt on Black Friday 2007, and the second one off E-bay in june last year. Both are identical N553 DX. Haven't had any problems yet. I have the Asus A8NSLI Premium mobo. Thought I saw somewhere that you have the same one.

I'd like to give a A8N-32 SLI board a try, but heard they had too many problems.
Probably real cheap now.

Hope you get everything squared away with yours.

That's my motherboard Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe. No problems at all with the motherboard except for the hokey onboard sound, which is shared by many kinds of motherboards. I had a soundcard anyway.

Our problem is that with our 939 motherboards, we have nowhere to go. We are at the top of our microprocessor options and will have to move to another slot when we upgrade. But it's been a great motherboard and I will get three years (at least) out of it. Installed the new Rosewill SLI certified 550 watt power supply last night. Tonight it's Slightly Subnuclear Deck Gun time!

Graphics card-wise, if I get an itch, the 9800GT cards are $100 now. No reason to SLI, but you still can and it's actually affordable at $100 a pop. I just can't get excited about it again...

[Elder-Pirate]

[quote=Rockin Robbins]

Installed the new Rosewill SLI certified 550 watt power supply last night. Tonight it's Slightly Subnuclear Deck Gun time!






Hope your new power supply has at least two 12V rails at 20 ( or more ) amps. That is if you are going to run the 7800 GS.

I have the BFG Nvidia Geforce 7800 GS and it states a 400 watt PS with at least a 20 amp 12V rail. I had a 500 watt PS but it only had an 18 amp and a 16 amp 12V rail ( had that one installed about a year ago and no attention was payed to the amps by the tech who put it in nor I ) . Almost five months ago I was playing a game a lot more graphic pulling than SH4 when all of a sudden "POOF", a small puff of smoke came out of the PS vent and the monitor shutdown. The 7800GS was trying for that 20amps ( or near it ) and Shot that 500 PS right through the heart.
When I removed the PS the inside coil was smoked and the 120 mm fan was locked up tight.

I purchased a BFG 680 watt PS (all set up for SLI if I ever want it ) with four 12V rails at 20 amps ( well at least I have some spare 12V 20 amp rails ).

SH4 has not changed ( always did run great ) but the other game that really works out the graphic card ( and PS ) runs smooth as silk.

I really like the old 7800 GS as mine is AGP 256 MB 8X and is the highest ( Nvidia anyway ) graphic card this old Asus A7N8X mother board will handle.

Also running 3 GB Crucial 184 pin DIMM DDR 3200 memory sticks.

Am sticking to XP. Vista beware for I will go down with my ship if I have too.

PS. the PS burning out was not related to circulating air for I've 10 fans counting the PS 120 mm ( new one has 140 mm ) and they all were working just fine on this big ole Alienware full tower. Lots of room.

[gimpy117]

heck I can't even use AA from settings...so I dunno

I think Invidia drivers handle it